The Effect of Processing on the Measured Energy Value of Almonds in the Human Diet

The metabolizable energy values, or Atwater general factors, for protein, fat, and
carbohydrate are commonly used to calculate the metabolizable energy of a diet. Atwater
factors are based on average values of mixed diets and are not exact; thus, using these
values could introduce an error in the calculated metabolizable energy of a particular food
due to differences in chemical structure and availability. Studies have demonstrated that
Atwater general factors overestimate the energy derived from protein and fat, as well as the
measured metabolizable energy of mixed diets, particularly those that are high in dietary
fiber. Studies are lacking, however, that examine how different processing methods affect
the metabolizable energy of a food due to differences in chemical structure and
availability.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age 25 to 75 years at beginning of study

- BMI between 20 and 38 kg/m2

- Fasting glucose < 126 mg/dl

- Blood pressure < 160/100 (controlled with certain medications)

- Fasting total blood cholesterol < 280 mg/dl

- Fasting triglycerides < 300 mg/dl

Exclusion Criteria:

- Presence of kidney disease, liver disease, gout, hyperthyroidism, untreated or
unstable hypothyroidism, certain cancers, gastrointestinal disease, pancreatic
disease, other metabolic diseases, or malabsorption syndromes

- Women who have given birth during the previous 12 months

- Pregnant women or women who plan to become pregnant or become pregnant during the
study

- Lactating women

- Type 2 diabetes requiring the use of oral antidiabetic agents or insulin

- History of bariatric or certain other surgeries related to weight control

- Smokers or other tobacco users (during 6 months prior to the start of the study)

- History of eating disorders or other dietary patterns which are not consistent with
the dietary intervention (e.g., vegetarians, very low fat diets, high protein diets)

- Volunteers who have lost 10% of body weight within the last 12 months

- Known (self-reported) allergy or adverse reaction to almonds or other nuts

- Unable or unwilling to give informed consent or communicate with study staff

- Self-report of alcohol or substance abuse within the past 12 months and/or current
acute treatment or rehabilitation program for these problems (long-term participation
in Alcoholics Anonymous is not an exclusion)

- Other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral factors that in the judgment of the
Principal Investigator may interfere with study participation or the ability to
follow the intervention protocol